The Gift Bringer
The many faces of Santa…
Customs of each country…
By Lee-Anne Governess Australia www.governessaustralia.com
This powerpoint is designed to give supervisors and home tutors across Australia information which has been
researched and cross referenced.
Like all learning it is up to you how much information you give to your children.
This powerpointis part of a Christmas Info series designed by Governess Australia: Christmas Carols, Father
Christmas and Christmas Info
I intend to research and refined the information every year and the christmas info will be available on in the
Schoolhouse from January 2009 and emailed to Outback Govies yahoo group each year.
Any feedback or updated information you have on this series please email
[email protected]
Learning Guide
This slide is a work in progress.
Any information that I could add please
email
[email protected]
Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus, legendary bringer of gifts at Christmas. He is generally
depicted as a fat, jolly man with a white beard, dressed in a red suit
trimmed with white, and driving a sleigh full of toys drawn through the air
by eight reindeer. Santa is said to visit on Christmas Eve, entering
houses through the chimney to leave presents under the Christmas tree
and in the stockings of all good children.

Although this familiar image of Santa Claus is a North American invention
of the 19th century, it has ancient European roots and continues to
influence the celebration of Christmas throughout the world.
SANTA : 1823 to NOW

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In 1823, Clement C. Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas', which
showed Santa Claus driving a sleight drawn by "eight tiny
reindeer" and in doing so he created an image we all have today.
Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus based on Moore's description
cementing in this image.
Thomas Nast was the first artist to draw Santa Claus as a fat, jolly,
white-whiskered old man. He was born September 27, 1840 in
Landau, Baden, Germany and died December 7, 1902 in
Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was an American cartoonist after arriving
in the United States at the age of six. He was a political cartoonist
who happened to create one of the most popular images of Santa
Claus. He is also noted for popularizing the Democratic party's
donkey.
Before Santa…Saint Nicholas
The accounts of his life are confused and historically unconfirmed.

Saint Nicholas is the immediate forebear of the North American Santa
Claus. According to legend, he makes his rounds on December 5, Saint
Nicholas's Eve.

Saint Nicholas, lived 4th century, before Christianity was a main religion.
continues… Nicholas
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of just about everything.
He is the national saint of Russia and Greece and churches named
after him number in the thousands - more than 400 in Great Britain
alone.
He is the patron saint of judges, murderers, pawnbrokers, thieves,
merchants, paupers, scholars, sailors, bakers, travelers, maidens and
poor children.
He is known as the friend and protector of all those in trouble.
His legend spread throughout Europe, emphasizing his role as a
traditional bringer of gifts.
continues… Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of
Bethlehem in the fourth century. (Born about 245 AD and died about 350
AD)

He grew up to become the bishop of Myra (now Kale), his hometown,
Lycia, near the coast of what is now Turkey.

Legends tell of his love for children, his kindness and the miracles he
brought about.
Bishop Nicholas & the 3 sisters

Perhaps the most famous story of all tells how he helped three
unfortunate young sisters who all had suitors but had no dowries
because their father, a poor nobleman, could not raise the money. So
they could not marry.

Now the bishop Nicholas was a shy man and did not like to give money
directly , so he thought of a way to give it anonymously. When the first
daughter was ready to marry, the good bishop tossed a bag of gold into
the house at night. Later, when the second daughter prepared to marry,
she too received a mysterious bag of gold. When the third daughter
prepared to marry, the poor nobleman was determined to find out who
had been so generous. So he kept watch and saw the bishop drop
another bag of gold into the house. It has been said that Saint Nicholas
climbed on the roof and dropped the third bag of gold down the
chimney where it landed in a stocking hung to dry, giving us a reason
to hang up Christmas stockings today. When the father saw what had
happened, Nicholas begged him to keep the secret, but, of course, the
news got out. From then on, whenever anyone received an
unexpected gift, they thanked Nicholas.
Bishop to Saint Nicholas

Six hundred years later, the Russian Emperor Vladimir visited
Constantinople and heard all the wonderful stories about
Bishop Nicholas and decided to make him the patron saint of
Russia. The stories even spread to the Laplands - to the
people of the reindeer sleds.

The three bags of gold Nicholas gave the sisters made him the
focus of merchants in northern Italy. Statutes and pictures
had shown him holding the three bags and when taken as the
patron saint of the merchants, the bags became gold balls,
representing money lenders and today, pawnbrokers.

The anniversary of Nicholas' death,
December 6th, either 345 A.D. or 352 A.D.,
is so close to Christmas that, in many
countries, the two merged. But in
Germany and the Netherlands, the two
remain separate.
The Sidekick : Black Peter

Nicholas was sometimes said to
ride through the sky on a horse.
He was depicted wearing a
bishop's robes and was said to
be accompanied at times by
Black Peter, an elf whose job was
to whip the naughty children.
St. Nicolas dropped…

After the restructuring of christianity, German Protestants encouraged
worship of the Christkindl (Christ child) as a gift giver on his own feast
day, December 25. When the Nicholas tradition prevailed, it became
attached to Christmas itself.

Because the saint's life is so unreliably documented, Pope Paul VI
ordered the feast of Saint Nicholas dropped from the official Roman
Catholic calendar in 1969.
Other Names for St Nick…

The Christian figure of Saint Nicholas replaced or incorporated
various early pagan gift-giving figures such as
– Roman: Befana
– Scandinavia : Julenisse
– German: Berchta and Knecht Ruprecht.

The saint was called Sankt Nikolaus in Germany and Sanct
Herr Nicholaas or Sinter Klaas in Holland.

The term Christkindl evolved to Kriss Kringle, another nickname
for Santa Claus.
Christmas celebrations around the world

It is interesting to see how different countries
celebrate Christmas.
 The gift bringer has many names..
Aussie
On the Nerang River in Australia he rides water skis, wears a
white beard and red bathing trunks.
 Kids sometimes leave beer out for Santa

Austria

Christkind
Brazil

In Brazil Grandpapa Indian, Vovo Indo, brings gifts.

Father Christmas is called Papai Noel. Many Christmas
customs are similar to USA or UK. For those who have
enough money, a special Christmas meal will be chicken,
turkey, ham, rice, salad, pork, fresh and dried fruits, often
with beer. Poorer people will just have chicken and rice.
Belgium and the Netherlands



Noel, Saint Nicholas, Christkind and Black Pete
Belgium
On the sixth of December Sinterklaas or Saint-Nicholas is celebrated, which is an entirely
different holiday from Christmas. Santa Claus in Belgium is called de Kerstman or le Père Noël
and he does come around on Christmas day to bring children presents. There are different
cultures in Belgium, the Northern part being Vlaanderen (speaking a Dutch dialect), the
Southern part being Wallonie (speaking a French dialect) and the Eastern part speaking
German. Small family presents are given at Christmas too, under the tree, or in stockings near
the fire-place, to be found in the morning. Christmas breakfast is a special sweet bread called
'cougnou' or 'cougnolle' - the shape is supposed to be like baby Jesus. Some families will have
another big meal on Christmas day.
Belgium

On the sixth of December Sinterklaas or Saint-Nicholas is
celebrated, which is an entirely different holiday from
Christmas. Santa Claus in Belgium is called de Kerstman
or le Père Noël and he does come around on Christmas day
to bring children presents. There are different cultures in
Belgium, the Northern part being Vlaanderen (speaking a
Dutch dialect), the Southern part being Wallonie (speaking
a French dialect) and the Eastern part speaking German.
Small family presents are given at Christmas too, under the
tree, or in stockings near the fire-place, to be found in the
morning. Christmas breakfast is a special sweet bread
called 'cougnou' or 'cougnolle' - the shape is supposed to be
like baby Jesus. Some families will have another big meal
on Christmas day.
China

In China, Santa Claus is called Dun Che Lao Ren, which means
Christmas Old Man.
Denmark
Denmark - Julinisse

In Denmark the gift bringer, Julemanden, also carries a sack and
is drawn by reindeer. Elves called Juul Nisse are said to come
from the attic, where they live, to help Julemanden. Children put
a saucer of milk or rice pudding out for them in the attic and
hope to find it empty in the morning.
England

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English children wait for Father Christmas, known to their ancestors as Christmas itself. In
France gifts are also brought by Father Christmas, Pre Noel, or the Christ Child himself. In
Austria and Switzerland the Christkindl bears gifts. In some towns Christkindl is a beautiful girlangel sent down from heaven to give gifts.
Pantomines
A Message From The Queen
eggnog, mince pies, and Christmas pudding
France
France - Pere Noel or le Petit

In France, Christmas is always called 'Noël.
Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated
in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax
candles. Fir trees in the garden are often decorated
too, with lights on all night. Father Christmas is
called Père Noël. The Christmas meal is an
important family gathering with good meat and the
best wine. Not everyone sends Christmas cards.
Finland

Finnish people believe that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north
part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all
over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. (It is only fair to say that
the people of Greenland say that really, Father Christmas lives in Greenland!)
There is a even big tourist theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of
Finland, near to where they say that Father Christmas lives.
 Everyone cleans their houses ready for the three holy days of Christmas Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Christmas Eve is very special,
when people eat rice porridge and plum fruit juice in the morning. They will
then decorate a spruce tree in the home. At mid-day, the 'peace of Christmas' is
broadcast on radio and TV from the Finnish city of Turku by its Mayor. In the
evening, a traditional Christmas dinner is eaten. The meal will include
'casseroles' containg macaroni, rutabaga, carrot and potato, with cooked ham
or turkey. Many families will visit cemeteries and grave-yards to place a
candle onto the burial graves of family members. Cemeteries are very
beautiful at Christmas-time.
 Children receive their presents on Christmas Eve, usually with a family
member dressing as Father Christmas. As children grow older, they come to
realise that 'Father Christmas' is really a bigger brother, sister or family
member.
 Finland - Old Man Christmas
Germany

In Germany's Berchtesgaden district, twelve young men dressed in straw and wearing
animal masks danced along after Saint Nicholas , ringing cowbells. After gifts were given as
each home, the masked men drove the young people out and beat them, or pretended to do
so. This was symbolic punishment for having misbehaved. It had also been a part of a
pagan ritual that was thought to ensure crops the following year. The German Saint Nicholas
also comes with a helper. He has different names in different parts of Germany: Knecht
Ruprecht or Krampus in southern German; Pelzebock in the northwestern part of the
country; and Hans Muff in the Rhineland. Like Black Peter, he carries a sack on his back and
a rod in his hand. The helper was a frightening being given to ogre-like growls, quite the
opposite of Saint Nicholas' shining goodness.

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Germans love to decorate their houses at Christmas. Many houses will have little wooden
frames holding electric candles in their windows, and coloured pictures of paper or plastic
which look beautiful from the outside at night. Often too, they will have an 'Adventskranz' a wreath of leaves with four candles. (Advent - meaning 'coming' - is the 4 week period
before Christmas). On each Sunday of Advent, another candle is lit. Most homes will also
have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the stable where Jesus was born, with Mary,
Joseph, Baby Jesus, and animals.
Father Christmas - 'Der Weihnachtsmann' - brings presents in the late afternoon of
Christmas Eve (December 24th), after people have been to a church meeting. The
presents are then found under the Christmas tree. One person in the family will ring a bell
and call everyone to come to the room. On Christmas Day, fish (carp) or goose will be
cooked.
Germany
Germany - Kriss Kringle, Christkindor Saint Nicholas

Germans love to decorate their houses at Christmas.
Many houses will have little wooden frames holding
electric candles in their windows, and coloured
pictures of paper or plastic which look beautiful
from the outside at night. Often too, they will have
an 'Adventskranz' - a wreath of leaves with four
candles. (Advent - meaning 'coming' - is the 4 week
period before Christmas). On each Sunday of
Advent, another candle is lit. Most homes will also
have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the
stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph,
Baby Jesus, and animals.
Hungary

Susanna Denes, a Hungarian friend contributed the
following:
Santa Clause (Winter-grandfather) (Tel-apo or
Mikulas) comes on the 6th of December. Children
should clean and put their shoes outside next to the
door or window before they go to sleep. Next day
candies and/or small toys appear in them in red bags.
For children, who don't behave well, a golden birch
placed next to the sweets, a symbol for spanking...
(but don't worry, it is just for fun, and not for actual
punishment.)
On 24th of December, children go to their relative
or to the movies, because little Jesus brings the tree
and the presents that evening to their house. It is
Italy

Italian children also receive gifts on Three Kings Day, but the
gift bearer is La Befana. La Befana refused to go to Bethlehem
with the wise men when they passed her door because she had
not finished her sweeping. Now she goes from place to place
hoping that some day she will find the Christ Child. Everywhere
she goes, she leaves a little gift.
Italy - Befana
Japan - Santa Kurohsu
Latvia

Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings
presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas
starting on Christmas Eve. Usually the presents are
put under the family Christmas tree. (What a good
idea to spread Christmas out longer!) It was in
Latvia that the first Christmas tree was decorated.
For more infromation see First Christmas Tree
 The special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked
brown peas with bacon (pork) sauce, small pies,
cabbage and sausage.
Mexico & Spain - Three Kings
New Zealand

Lou from DownUnder writes: Christmas
starts for us with gifts under the tree, to be
opened Christmas morning. Then its onto a
Christmas lunch either at home or at one's
parents place. Turkey or chicken with all the
trimmings is eaten, then come tea time, it is a
Bar-B-Q for friends and family to get
together,and have a few beers or wines with
the meal!!
Poland
Poland - Star Man or Wise Men

In Poland the children's gifts are said to come from the stars and
in Hungary angels bring them.
Portugal

Father Christmas brings presents to children
on Christmas Eve. The presents are left under
the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace.
A special Christmas meal of salted dry codfish with boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight
on Christmas Eve.
Sweden
Swedish children wait eagerly for Jultomten, a gnome whose
sleigh is drawn by the Julbocker, the goats of the Thor, the god
of thunder. He dresses in red and carries a bulging sack on his
back.
 The most important day is Christmas Eve. A special Christmas
meal is eaten on Christmas Eve - ham (pork), herring fish, and
brown beans - and this is the time when families give presents
to each other. Many people attend a church meeting early on
Christmas Day.

Syria

In Syria children's gifts come from the youngest camel on
January 6th, which is Three Kings Day. In Spanish speaking
countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina , Brazil, the
Philippines and Spain, the Three Kings, themselves, give the
gifts to the children.
Russia
Russia - Basbouschka
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In Russia the same ageless wanderer is called Baboushka.
She gave the wise men the wrong directions and on the
eve of Three Kings Day she wanders from house to house,
peering into the faces of children and leaving gifts. Russia
also has Grandfather Frost.
In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not
celebrated very much. New Year was the important time when 'Father Frost' brought presents to children. With the
fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th.
This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church
uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days.
Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and 'meat
dumplings'.
United States

The USA is so multi-cultural that you will find many different ways of
celebrating Christmas. A friend writes about Christmas meals, "Our family
(Eastern European origin) favor turkey with trimmings. My grandparents and
their relatives preferred keilbasi (Polish sausage), cabbage dishes, and soups.
My husband's Italian family insisted on lasagna!"
Another friend wrote:
All year long children are told to behave, or they will get coal in their stocking.
On Christmas Eve, they hang highly stylized stockings on the mantle of the
fireplace, then go to bed early so that they will find presents in the morning.
They are told that at midnight Santa will come, bringing a huge bag of toys.
He will come down through the chimney, leave candy in the stockings and
presents under the Christmas tree (anything from a Pine or Fir to a Spruce),
then plug one nostril and shoot up through the chimney. Cookies are
traditionally left for him, and a carrot is commonly left for Rudolph the Rednosed reindeer, very much a part of Christmas tradition (Santa will land on the
roof with his sleigh and nine reindeer). On Christmas morning, things such as
cinnamon rolls or coffee cake are served for breakfast, and for dinner there is
typically ham (and occasionally regal plum pudding). That is it for
celebration — Boxing Day is never celebrated, Epiphany is only celebated by
Catholics, and Advent not commonly celebrated.
Bibliography
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www.christmas-time.com
www.christmas.com
 www.santa.net
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